The ABS includes royalties for more than 200 songs that hit number one on the charts. However, none of the songs were disclosed in a rating report on the transaction, and only three artists were identified.
Hotwire Communications and Flexential are issuing their first ABS. The Hotwire deal is tied to fiber-to-the-home networks while two ABS from Flexential are linked to data centers.
Non-agency MBS hit the market ahead of Thanksgiving; rating upgrades possible with new commercial MBS methodology at Moody’s; timeshare securitization performance stable; Fitch extends comment period for proposed criteria to rate shipping container ABS; California launches tobacco-settlement securitization.
Although only $4.5 billion of TALF funding was requested during the facility’s pandemic-related course, the Federal Reserve program is credited with stabilizing the ABS market.
At one point during the pandemic, used car prices were up 50% year over year. Now, appreciation is around 20%, prompting speculation that auto ABS performance will take a hit.
The two restaurant chains will use the ABS proceeds to largely pay down their previous deals. The Taco Bell issuance received a higher rating than Hooters.